周而复始 (zhōu ér fù shǐ) — to move in cycles; to repeat a process again and again; cyclical; in an endless loop

Definition

Literary idiom meaning things go round and round in an endless cycle — nature, history, or work repeating the same pattern. Stronger and more formal than the everyday word 重复.

idiom
to move in cyclesto repeat a process again and againcyclicalin an endless loop

Examples

  • 周而复始，。
    Sì jì zhōu ér fù shǐ, chūn tiān yòu lái le.
    The four seasons cycle round and spring has come again.
  • 周而复始，。
    Lì shǐ zhōu ér fù shǐ, měi gè wáng cháo dōu yǒu xīng shuāi.
    History repeats itself; every dynasty has its rise and fall.
  • 周而复始，。
    Zhè zhǒng gōng zuò zhōu ér fù shǐ, ràng wǒ jué de yǒu xiē wú liáo.
    This kind of work goes in cycles and makes me feel a bit bored.

Origin

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The oldest form of 周 drew a jade artifact with carved patterns. It was later borrowed for a place name, so an extra mark was added to distinguish it.

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A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 而 is a picture of a beard.

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Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 復; 复 is its simplified writing.

The simplified 复 stands for more than one traditional character. In most words (复习, 恢复) it is 復; in others (复印, 复杂) (答复, 反复) it is 複 or 覆.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彳彳chìwalk
Sound part声符shēngfú
复
复fù復fù
Same sound today

The traditional form 復 combines 彳, a walking part, with 复, a sound part, to show walking back and forth.

Open 复 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
女女nǚwoman
Sound part声符shēngfú
台
台tái始shǐ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

始 is made of 女 (woman) and 台, which gives the sound.

Open 始 →

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